Hi guys, it sounds like good advice to use my block heater this winter here in southern ontario. I'm wondering if there is a product out there that would help the two plug ends disconnect from each other if for some dumb reason ( half asleep, big hurry, or any other excuse for forgetting to unplug in the morning. It,s not the brightest time of day or for me either. Has anyone seen or thought of something along this line? Hey, I don't want to be that guy driving down the road trailing my extension cord in tow.

 

what i do,is put the ext cord over my mear on the driverside.that way you will never forget.other than that i dont no of any devices.

 

Guss' response is the simplest and easiest.
But if you really want a "device" I suppose you could do it.

If you back away from your power source, just tie the ext cord around a fixed item so it will pull the plugs free when you forget to undo them yourself.

But did I mention that I like Guss' reply?

 

my father in law had his connected to his christmas lights.lol

yep he pulled 2 strands down from the eavestrough.,,,,,, so don't do that

 

i,ve used the wire over the mirror method, its easy and it works. i'm not sure who makes them but my local fire dept has as specific plug for there trucks that they never un-plug. they just get in and drive and it dissconnects without a problem. i'm a good friend to one of the fire chiefs if nobody else chimes in i'll post that info monday.
-ed

 

I back in my off street parking because I tend to hit things going backward. I customized an extension cord under the truck so my plug is at the rear bumper. I removed the round ground prong and the extension cord from the house is nylon wired tied to the fence in four places.

It always disconnects as I drive away.

 

A company makes an auto ejecting plug for rescue vehicles. IIRC, its calld a Kussmaul auto ejector. I'll see if i can google up some info for ya.


EDIT: Here's the link to the page with them. They make ones for air too (air brakes or tanks). http://www.kussmaul.com/auto%20and%2...s%20index.html

 

A friend of mine that I worked with up in northern B.C. used to buy a short extension cord, plug his truck into it and then wrap the slack around his tow hooks. Then he would use another longer cord to plug into the outlet, that way if he forgot to unplug, all he would damage would be the short cord and not the blockheater cord.

 

I find that a replacement end on my extension cord works the best and probably the cheapest solution - I use a hard plastic Leviton one - connects solid, but doesn't contract and get tight when it gets cold (-40C). Maybe mine's little worn, but it pulls apart easily if I forget to unplug it.
Looks like this 515CV > Straight Blade Connectors (Commercial Grade) > Straight Blade Connectors > All Leviton Products from Leviton Electrical and Electronic Products

 

I've been in EMS for years and we do have Auto Ejects on some trucks .. for me, doing it for so long, I've just draped the cord over the mirror like others said - I back into my driveway so the cord is in the way of the door. Can't miss it ..

 

Yeap the easiest and cheapest solution is what the others have said have the cord come over the mirror and you won't forget. When we lived in Alaska daily you would see some green horn driving down the street with a blue extension cord dangeling along. Can cause damage to the outlets, extension cords, and plug/block heater too. If it is very cold in the part of Ontario that you are in it might be best to get a extreme cold weather extension cord, will stay flexible and work down to like -50 degrees f. What we always used in AK, never an issue, with weather or temps. Good luck and stay warm.

 

Reminds me of my mom when I was a child. My parents ALWAYS drove diesel volkswagons. My mom would always forget to unplug it and in the cold it would shatter
the grill LOL Dad was always so happy. Yeah they too would drape the cord either over the mirror or door handle so she wouldnt forget. I now live where it doesnt get cold enough to have to plug it in so I dont have to worry LOL